Summary:
The main conclusion of this report – "Accountability Denied: The Absence of Investigation and Punishment of Torture in Israel" – is that Israel has no genuine investigation mechanism for complaints of torture. This results in absolute criminal immunity for interrogators who commit grave crimes. In practice the system enjoys the acquiescence and encouragement of the law enforcement system for torture that occurs in General Security Service (GSS) interrogations. Among other things, complaints are checked by an active GSS agent who is the official in charge of checking interrogee complaints. His recommendations not to open a criminal investigation are universally accepted by the high ranking attorney in charge in the Ministry of Justice and by the Attorney General. In practice, this means that the Attorney General and his assistants provide sweeping approval to use torture in Israel.

According to data provided by the State, since 2001 more than 600 complaints of torture by GSS agents were submitted while not even a single criminal investigation was opened.